Our Castilian Languaje in the Epoch of Saint Teresa

Abstract

The topic of the present work is the use of the Castilian language in the writings of one of the most representative figures of the mystical poetry of the so called Century of Gold: Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, more known like saint Teresa de Jesus or, simply, Teresa de Avila. In these brief pages they present some linguistic features of the language of the 16th century, and the change is outlined, so of being a “rustic language”, turns into a “national language”. For it, there will be done a brief historical - cultural exhibition of the epoch. Likewise, some variants will show themselves, principally, phonics, of the language of this period, with the purpose of highlighting that saint Teresa writes, in flat, simple, clear style, because her intention is not to go on to the posterity as a writer, but as a handmaid that wants to be closely together of her Lord. In conclusion, the feature of mutability will be highlighted of one of the most important languages nowadays in the writings of great saint this one.